Salem Manor Apartments Facing Foreclosure

A fairgrounds-area housing complex affiliated with a Memphis megachurch could be sold at auction after falling into foreclosure.

Salem Manor, a 101-unit low-income apartment complex at 2270 South Parkway E. and 2216-2262 South Parkway E. across from New Salem Baptist Church of Memphis, fell into foreclosure when Salem Manor L.P. defaulted on a $2.4 million leasehold deed of trust, according to a first-run foreclosure notice in the Tuesday, March 13, edition of The Daily News. The loan, originally taken out through First Tennessee Bank in 1997, is currently held by Greystone Servicing Corp. Inc.

New Salem pastor Frank E. Ray Sr. signed the deed of trust on behalf of Salem Manor L.P.

The church began renovating the 23-building apartment complex in 1997. At the time, a church representative told The Daily News the property had been vacant for 15 years.

Salem Manor received a 10-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes incentive from the Center City Revenue Finance Corp., a Downtown Memphis Commission affiliate board, in 1997 in conjunction with the project. The PILOT term was later extended to 25 years and is set to expire in December 2022. As part of the normal PILOT process, Salem Manor L.P. transferred ownership of the property to the CCRFC, which leased it back to the limited partnership.

Robert F. Tom of Baker Donelson has been named the substitute trustee and will hold the foreclosure sale April 4, according to the notice.

Parties involved in the foreclosure could not be contacted by press time; per newspaper policy, calls to those involved, such as the property owner, deed holder or trustee, are prohibited until the notice is published.

– Daily News staff

St. Jude Raises $108 Million Through Holiday Campaign

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital raised more than $108 million during the 14th annual St. Jude Thanks and Giving holiday fundraising drive, the hospital reported Monday, March 12.

Throughout the holidays, shoppers donated at more than 70 corporate partners representing a cross-section of industries. New partners, including Joann, Peeks and HomeSense, joined returning campaign partners Best Buy, Kay Jewelers, Domino’s, Kmart, HomeGoods, Ann Inc., Chili’s Grill & Bar, AutoZone, New York and Co., Williams-Sonoma Inc. and others.

Best Buy once again led all partners, raising $20 million, according to St. Jude. Over the past five years, Best Buy has raised $57 million for the hospital.

Celebrity supporters – including Jennifer Aniston, Sofia Vergara, Michael Strahan, Jimmy Kimmel and Luis Fonsi, among others – joined St. Jude national outreach director Marlo Thomas in raising awareness for the campaign. Thomas’ father, Danny Thomas, founded St. Jude more than 50 years ago.

The campaign also received weeklong exposure from NBC’s “Today” show, which aired several in-depth stories chronicling the journey of St. Jude patients and the discoveries that made them possible. In addition, theater partners, including AMC, Cinemark Holdings Inc., Regal Entertainment Group and others, showed a star-studded St. Jude Thanks and Giving movie trailer.

– Daily News staff

North Wastewater Plant Resumes Partial Operations

Memphis’ north wastewater treatment plant began partial operations Sunday, March 11, with the plant expected to resume full operations by Friday, city public works director Robert Knecht said Monday.

The Maynard Stiles Wastewater Treatment Plant shut down Thursday after a surge of flood waters as well as mechanical and electrical problems combined to disable three motors in a well at the plant.

The water in the basin in the area came through manholes at nearby General DeWitt Spain Airport and almost made it onto the runway. The flooding was contained and the airport was closed for several hours Saturday into Sunday.

Knecht said workers at the treatment plant were able to get a spare pump motor installed and running by noon Sunday to make the treatment plant partially functional.

But tens of millions of gallons of wastewater sewage is still being pumped raw and untreated into the Mississippi River. Since then other pumps have been brought in to work on the back up of the untreated wastewater.

“We brought up 18 to 20 pumps to then pump what was happening … into the Mississippi River,” Knecht said. “We notified the state and explained to them the circumstances – that we had no other alternative. We had to protect the property.”

All three of the well pump motors – weighing 25,000 pounds each – are now being repaired.

The north plant normally treats 150 million gallons of wastewater a day that then goes into the Mississippi River.

Knecht put a preliminary cost of the repairs at $5 million to $6 million that comes from the city’s sewer fund – an enterprise fund consisting of revenue specifically from sewer fees.

He has said there will be some kind of penalty for the city’s dumping of untreated wastewater into the Mississippi River.

– Bill Dries

Overton Square Inks Cake, Pastry Business

Loeb Properties Inc. has signed a new tenant at 2094 Trimble Place in Overton Square.

Pastry and cake bakery 17 Berkshire is taking 1,038 square feet, with plans to open this spring. Construction on the buildout of its space is ongoing.

Aaron Petree, vice president brokerage for Loeb Properties, represented the landlord in the transaction.

Local owner Nuha Abuduhair has operated 17 Berkshire since 2015. It specializes in elegant cakes, macarons, pastries and chocolates. The name comes from the address in Memphis where she grew up.

In its new Overton Square storefront, 17 Berkshire will feature Abuduhair’s handmade pastries served with specialty artisanal teas and coffees, along with a curated selection of boutique items.

The bakery also offers custom celebration cakes and pastries available by special order.

– Daily News staff

Ninth Annual Tour de Grizz Scheduled for April 8

The Memphis Grizzlies and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee are continuing the annual tradition of encouraging Grizzlies fans to consider alternative and healthy choices by taking part in the ninth annual Tour de Grizz bike ride on April 8, before the Grizzlies play the Detroit Pistons at 2:30 p.m. at FedExForum.

Packages start at $25 and include a terrace-level ticket to that day’s game, a Memphis Police Department escorted bike ride to and from the game and a Tour de Grizz T-shirt to commemorate the event.

Participants are encouraged to join the group prior to the ride for music and entertainment from noon to 1 p.m. on the north side of the Tennessee Welcome Center (191 Riverside Drive) before hopping on their bikes for a 1.5-mile ride to FedExForum to see the Grizzlies take the court in the final home matchup of the regular season.

Riders in the Tour de Grizz will depart from the welcome center at 1:15 p.m. and be accompanied by MPD escorts. Once the riders have reached the arena, they will have complimentary “bike valet parking.” Following the game, fans will take a group ride back to the park.

All participants must be at least 10 years old to ride their own bike and are required to provide their own bike and safety equipment, including a helmet and lights. The Tour de Grizz will take place rain or shine. Fans who have already bought a ticket for the April 8 game can join the ride by calling 901-205-1436 or visiting grizzlies.com.

– Don Wade

Brackin Returns to SWTCC In Workforce Role

Anita Brackin has been named associate vice president for workforce and economic development at Southwest Tennessee Community College.

She comes to the post at Southwest from directing workforce development at the Greater Memphis Chamber for the last three years.

Brackin’s duties will include developing partnerships with state and federal organizations that deal with workforce and economic development. She will also work with private-sector groups, community agencies and other partners in education.

Before joining the chamber staff, Brackin led corporate training and continuing education programs at SWTCC. That included working with Hershey Memphis to design a curriculum to teach workers technical skills at the South Memphis candy plant.

– Bill Dries